Jerry Rasmussen and Carla Crandall (along with their coworkers) forced the UFCW Local 4 to sign a settlement after union officials tried to bar them from exercising their legal rights at a Safeway in Polson, Montana.
National Right to Work attorneys helped the two through their battle against illegal termination threats and forced dues seizures after union officials denied their requests to resign from formal membership.
The Associated Press covered the story:
"I got a hold of the (National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation) attorneys, and they said, 'That's absolutely not right. They have to acknowledge those Beck rights and let you be a nonmember,'" Rasmussen said.
Although the settlement requires UFCW Local 4 officials to reimburse the employees of their forced dues plus interest and to inform them of their legal right to resign from formal membership, it is an incremental victory in the broad fight against compulsory unionism in Montana.
Until Montana has a Right to Work law that makes the payment of union dues strictly volunatary, this type of intimidation will likely continue throughout the Treasure State.
Comments
Local 491,Uniontown,Pa. The injustice against the union workers
This local of the teamsters union needs investigated as, I have complained to the department of labor, and nothing was done I'm in the process of finding an attorney to fight the illegal suspension and firing of myself, for first qquestioning the unions improper handling of of the grievance process, and then the threats and personal attacks, from my engineering union steward,at Uniontown Hospital, Uniontown Pa. For defending myself, and alleged whistleblowing. I was hauled up, and given days off with an accuser, any wittenesses against, and mostly not being allowed to defend myself with the facts. This hospital is in anarchy and the workers, and the patients are suffering with the union, and the hospital, which the union allowes to do any thing they want. Some examples illegal asbestos removal,oct. 5th 2001, Diesel spill from a generator,for three days,beginning of august,2006, current firestop vilations,gifts to the union steward,like free cleaning supplies,as he has a cleaning business on the side,he also recieved a free garage 2006 and 2007, Former director robbing a Lowes account, Possibly hiring illegals in the summer of 2007, Intimidation, harrassment, physical threat and much more. I have people who that knows all this, but are afraid or a part of it. Thats what I'm trying to do with obtaining an attorney to go after the union as I'm in the process of possibly losing everything. I was offered a small settlement in which I refused, that the union tried to shove my throat, as I don't trust them to arbitrate as the union is the main problem by allowing this hospital build a dictatorship that is tearing the hospital apart as well as giving very poor health. I forget to tell you There was a suicide in an emergency room that was covered up in, I think 2006,The police was supposed to watch him, but did not. HMMM! The world needs to know whats going on and I need my life put back together. This is healthcare today with union involvement.
Flouting the law
Bismarck
It has always amazed me that unions routinely ignore long established legal precedents, such as the 1985 Patternmakers decision that is at issue here, with impunity. If a worker‘s rights are violated by a union, there are no enforcement mechanisms in place to protect their rights. A worker must seek the help of an attorney at his own expense, unless he knows about the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, and file legal action every time a union decides to ignore the law. Then, if the worker is successful, the union need only return the stolen money and make another meaningless promise not to do it anymore. It is sort of like robbing a bank and if caught merely being required to give the money back.
It seems to me that laws imposing criminal penalties are in order.